SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES
Water Sports
WARNING
Avoid Personal Injury! Your boat
is not designed for and should not
be used for pulling parasails, kites,
gliders, or any device which can
become airborne. Use boat only
for appropriate water sports.
WARNING
Teak Surfing is extremely danger-
ous to participants due to their
proximity to the rear of the boat
where direct contact with the ex-
haust fumes from the boat engine
is the highest. Carbon monoxide
poisoning can occur and result in
mental disorientation, dizziness,
drowsiness, and loss of conscious-
ness. The combination of carbon
monoxide exposure and non-use
of a life jacket (PFD) make this new
water recreation activity an incred-
ibly dangerous and potentially
deadly sport.
Water skiing, wakeboarding, or riding
a towed, inflatable apparatus are some
of the more popular water sports. Tak-
ing part in any water sport requires
increased safety awareness by the
participant and the boat operator. If
you have never pulled someone be-
hind your boat before, it is a good ide
a
to spend some hours as an observer,
working with and learning from an ex-
perienced driver. It is also i
mportant to
be aware of the skill and experience of
the person being pulled. Always have
a second person on board to o
bserve
the person in the water so the driver
can concentrate on operating the boat.
Both the boat operator and observer
shouldmonitorthelocationofthe
towrope when particip
ating in water-
sports. A slack tow rope can become
entangled with person(s) or objects
in the boat or in the water, particularly
when making a tight turn or circling,
and cause serious personal injury.
Everyone participating in a water sport
should observe these guidelines:
– Allow only capable swimmers to
take part in any water sport.
– Always wear an approved personal
flotation device (PFD). Wearing
a properly designed PFD helps a
stunned or unconsciousperson stay
afloat. A Type-IVwater-ski vest is an
approved and practical PFD.
– Have a second person aboard to
observe the person being towed
and inform the driver about the par-
ticipant's hand signals. The driver
must give full attention to operating
the boat and the waters ahead.
– Be considerate to others you share
the water with.
– Never allow a person to “teak surf”
behind your boat. Do not tow a per-
soninanywatersportonashort
tow rope such that the person in-
hales exhaust fumes in concentra-
tion. Inhalation of concentrated ex-
haust fumes, which contain carbon
monoxide, can result in CO poison-
ing, personal injury and death.
– Give immediate attention to a per-
son who has fallen. He or she is
vulnerable in the water alone and
may not be seen by other boaters.
– Approachapersoninthewaterfrom
the lee side (opposite the direct
ion
of the wind). Turn off the motor be-
fore coming close to the person.
– Turn off engine and anchor the boat
before swimming.
– Participate in water spo
rts only
in safe areas. Stay away from
other boats, channels, beaches,
restricted areas, swi
mmers, and
heavily traveled waterways and un-
derwater obstructions.
– Swim only in areas designated as
safe for swimmin
g. These are usu-
ally marked with a swim area buoy.
Do not swim alone or at night.
________
SAFETY INF
ORMATION
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15
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